Photo Credit: NFL.com
FMQB: The ShopVac Heard Round the World:
Who Dey:
After Sunday’s amazing comeback win (twice), the Bengals are sitting pretty. They are now 3 full games up over the Ravens just 3 games into the season, the Browns aren’t seeming to pose much of a threat, and the closest team just lost their starting QB for 6 weeks. It’s almost not too early to crown them division champs with it hard to picture any other team coming close. Granted the only thing Bengals fans focus on nowadays is what happens in the playoffs (which have been ugly the last 4 years). The Bengals scored 2 go ahead TD’s on late 4th quarter drives on Sunday, in a hostile Baltimore environment.
Stop Hatin:
I am guilty of this too, but each week an article comes out that dang near slams Peyton Manning and his chances this year. Keep in mind that he has 1 of the 7 undefeated teams left with a couple wins coming on his arm. The guy is 3-0 on a team with a new coach and a new philosophy which they’ve admitted isn’t working yet, so Manning is that reason why. Sure, the Patriots, Bengals and even the Colts could be major tests for them, but don’t count them as a dying team quite yet.
Holding on:
The Eagles have been lambasted all season, with Bradford looking scared behind the line of scrimmage. Well going in and beating the 2-0 Jets on the road seems to have calmed critics for a little bit here, and note that DeMarco Murray didn’t play. It might be too early to say this, but the Eagles saved their season on Sunday. They have 3 easy games coming up (WSH, NYG, and NO), and could surprise the league by coming off that stretch at 4-2.
Battle of the 2-0 Teams:
The game lived up to the hype despite Romo being out. The Falcons went into Dallas and immediately went down 28-17. Weeden had a solid game, going 22 for 26, but it was a RB battle with Joseph Randle putting up 3 TD’s in the first half, and Devonta Freeman putting up a 3 TD game of his own. The game was close until about 3 minutes left when the Falcons pulled away, and despite putting up 28 points in the first half, the Cowboys failed to score at all in the 2nd.
Stolen Stat of the Week:
In the last 7 minutes of the game, Andy Dalton drove the Bengals 160 yards for 2 TD’s in a total time of 1 minute and 58 seconds
Stat of the Week #2:
There have been 14 missed extra points thought 3 weeks, that’s more than all of last year
Stat of the Week #3:
Andrew Luck is the #32 QB in Passer rating
Stat of the Week #4;
Cam Newton has more rushing yards than Eddie Lacy, Marshawn Lynch, and DeMarco Murray
Stat of the Week #5:
32 year old Larry Fitzgerald leads the league in TD receptions
Stat of the Week #6:
Aaron Rodgers has 10 TD’s and 0 INTs
Stat of the Week #7:
The Patriots scored on every single offensive possession
Stat of the Week #8:
Four players had 3 TD’s on Sunday
Stolen Stat of the Week #9:
NFL players went a full calendar month (September) with no arrests. This is the first time this has happened in 6 years…
Stat of the Week #10:
ESPN lists the Cowboys stadium capacity at 80,000, yet 90,345 people attended Sunday’s game.
Proof not to Panic:
After Week 1, the sports world wrote off the Colts saying they had a ton of issues. After Week 2 people said Indy would likely part ways with their coaches and this would be a forgotten year. Granted it took a crazy comeback, but after Week 3, if the playoffs were to start today the Colts would be the division champions. It helps to be in the AFC South, sure, but they went from tied to last to tied for first in a one week span, and it’s likely the Jaguars, Titans or Texans are going to push too hard this year. The Colts could go 8-8 and still win the division by a couple games. No need to panic quite yet.
FMQB Jinx:
Last week I mentioned how it was a tough week to be a QB (Romo, Brees, Cutler, and Manziel losing his job). I spoke too soon, as a 4th marqee QB went down last weekend when Roethlisberger sprained his MCL. Each year seems to have one team proving how important a backup QB can be, but 4 so soon (and from 3 playoff caliber teams) has been an anomaly. If Weeden and Vick can steady the ship and stay at .500, the Cowboys and Steelers can easily still make the playoffs with rested QB’s.
Quote of the Week:
“C’mon AP, break a big one.” Guys behind us at the game everytime Teddy handed it to Adrian Peterson (Oh yeah, I was at the Vikings Chargers game last week!). The reason I mention this is two-fold. First, Vikings fans were quick to forgive AP, and there have hardly been rumblings regarding his situation or the fact he missed all of last season. By Week 2 when he had his 134 yard day, nobody in Minnesota cared. Second, the quote shows that he still has it. Out of the 20 carries he had Sunday, I wouldn’t doubt that 17 of them were 2 yards or less. But he has that amazing explosive ability to break a huge run; something that I still don’t know other RB’s in the league have. Being 30 years old and having that ability is pretty amazing. For the record, even after his dismal Week 1 performance, AP is leading the league in rushing right now.
Quote of the Week #2:
“I wouldn’t even know what to do if I got one of those cheerleaders” Same guys behind us, and this is the PG version of that comment. They were definitely over 65 years old, but hard not to snicker with the commentary.
The Greatest Comedy Show on Turf:
As if the team isn’t bad enough, now the Rams are the laughing stock for their pyrotechnics setting a section of turf on fire and causing a 27 minute delay. What’s even worse is that a 25 year old ShopVac got more press than the team did! Granted that was a little funny, and even surprising it turned on.
Photo Credit @barstoolbigcat
First Extra Point Casualty:
Texans kicker Randy Bullock was released after missing 2 extra points and a field goal on Sunday. This is probably the only downside of the rule so far, and wouldn’t be surprised if Bullock isn’t the only one released this year due to the new rule.
Signs of an Elite Team:
As much as we talk about the Bills defense, they are the 3rd highest scoring team
As much as we talk about the Cardinals offense, they have allowed the 3rd fewest points
Games of the Week:
Big Week 4 for football fans! With the London game, if your heart desires (which mine might), fans get a chance to watch 4 straight games starting at 8:30am CST and ending at 10:30pm. Other than that it’s kind of a rough week if you’re looking for fun matchups. Keep an eye out for the Raiders to be 3-1 after this week and Falcons could be 4-0, otherwise not much to look forward to.
